Your time is valuable and appreciated!

Volunteers are vital to the life, health and advancement of the mission of Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden to grow, display, study and conserve California’s native plants.

RSABG volunteers work inside or outdoors, help maintain the Garden’s grounds, help staff during special events, lead tours for the public, assist development and communication staff reach out to the public—just to name a few opportunities.

The staff of Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden appreciate our volunteers immensely. We strive to provide interesting ways for volunteers to invest their skills and expertise in worthwhile work, and we offer frequent opportunities for learning knew skills, acquiring new knowledge, meeting new friends and participating in new and exciting experiences.

Interested in volunteering at the Garden?

Here's some information to familiarize yourself with the RSABG Volunteer Program.

Volunteers contribute service to RSABG in a wide variety of ways and areas. Some volunteers contribute time on a regular basis, while others volunteer in a less-structured or scheduled manner. New projects and special events arise on an ongoing basis and we endeavor to keep Volunteers informed so they can expand their involvement and get to know other areas of the Garden. Placements are made based on individual Volunteer interests, schedules, and abilities, as well as the current and most pressing needs of the Garden. Volunteers are vital in enabling the Garden to fulfill its mission.

Being an active member (eligible for formal service recognition) of the Volunteer Organization has three requirements:

*Becoming a member of RSABG (visit www.rsabg.org for information), which permits free access to the Garden even when not volunteering. There are many levels of membership to choose from, including $50 individual membership or $75 family membership (*the membership requirement is waived for full time students).

Completing the New Volunteer Orientation Course, "RSABG 101": This is our basic training for new volunteers. It provides an excellent overview of the Garden, its mission and its variety of programs, services, departments and activities. It offers you insight into the many ways you can get involved as a volunteer and gives you the chance to meet and connect with Garden staff members and fellow new volunteers. You'll be contacted about the next RSABG 101 after turning in a Volunteer Application.

Contributing of a minimum of 40 hours per year.

All RSABG volunteers are required to be members of the Garden, however it may be possible for you to begin volunteering without completing the formal training course or committing to 40 hours a year. This will be determined on an individual basis where appropriate or necessary. Volunteers are only eligible for the formal service recognition (including awards and pins at our annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner) if you complete the training and contribute 40 hours or more per year. Regardless, we encourage everyone interested to get involved in some way!

How to make a difference at California's Native Garden:

Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden is seeking volunteers to take on roles that include gardening, leading tours and serving as information assistants. We have volunteer opportunities for people with various interests and abilities.

Benefits

There are many benefits that accompany volunteering with RSABG including special lectures and tours for volunteers; field trips to other gardens, arboreta and places of botanical or historical interest; access to the RSABG research library and the volunteer library; discounts on classes and purchases at Grow Native Nursery and California Garden Gift Shop; social luncheons and mixers; meeting people with similar interests and spending time in a beautiful and environmentally conscience botanic garden.

Time Commitment

Many volunteers join the RSABG Volunteer Organization and make a commitment to contribute time on a regular basis; other volunteers contribute their time and energy in a less structured or scheduled manner. We welcome you to join the Garden’s volunteer efforts regardless of how much time you have to offer.

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer placement is arranged based on your interests, skills and schedule, as well as the current needs of the Garden. There are a number of opportunities in the areas of education, horticulture, visitor services, administration, research development and more. Here are a couple areas to consider:

Nature interpreters (docents) to lead tours for school children and, sometimes adult groups.

Discovery cart volunteers to staff weekend educational stations, informally educating visitors about various wonders of the Garden and nature.

Garden Gift Shop associates to provide a friendly presence in the Garden’s store, answer questions and help with merchandise sales.

There are many other opportunities for service as well, including fundraising, database maintenance, creating floral arrangements with native plants, working in the research library and staffing special events. Tell us what your interests and special skills are.